What VIES checks
VAT-number validity at the time of the request
VIES asks the relevant Member State service about the VAT number. A successful response can report the number as valid or not valid for that check.
Free European Commission VIES check
EU VAT number checker (VIES)
Check one EU Member State or Northern Ireland VAT number against VIES before preparing an invoice. InvoiceCraftly keeps a real negative VIES result separate from a service outage.
- Enter the VAT number with its country prefix, or choose the country.
- Complete the spam check and ask VIES.
- Review the result and any name or address VIES returns.
One VAT number · live VIES lookup
Check a VAT number
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Name and address
Returned details vary by country
Some Member State services return a business name and address and others do not. InvoiceCraftly shows the fields supplied by VIES.
Result states
Unavailable is different from invalid
A completed check reports Valid in VIES, Not valid in VIES for this check, or VIES could not complete this check. A service outage is shown as unavailable rather than as a negative VAT result.
VIES VAT checker FAQ
Can I search by company name or address?
This checker starts from a VAT number you already have. For supported countries, use Company Lookup when you need public business details first.
Why is a company name or address sometimes missing?
VIES responses depend on the Member State service. InvoiceCraftly shows those details when VIES supplies them.
Which UK VAT numbers work with VIES?
Northern Ireland VAT numbers covered by the relevant arrangements use the XI prefix in VIES. Ordinary GB VAT numbers are outside VIES.
What is sent when I run the check?
The VAT country code and number are sent to European Commission VIES for the lookup. Invoice contents are not included. See Privacy for the detailed handling.